Steering wheel for automobiles and the like



AugJM. 1923.

mamas J. BERLIEN STEERING WHEEL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19. 1921 Indie/1hr wwww mw j 1 J. BERLIEN STEERING WHEEL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed March 19. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

JOHN BERLIEN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEERING WHEEL FOR AUTOIEOBILES AND THE LIKE.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN BERLIEN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Wheels for Automobiles and the like, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a steering Wheel for automobiles and the like, and has for its object a wheel loosely mounted on the steering post and a mechanism for locking the same thereon, when it becomes necessary to control the steering mechanism of the-machine.

A further object is'to provide thewheel with a spring which normally holds the parts in operative steering condition, and by slightly pulling upon the wheel will release the parts, and a lock for holding the parts in tin-engaged relation.

A further object is to permit the wheel when in un-engaged relation to partially operate the steering mechanism to such degree as to come within the rules and ordinances, governing the parking of a machine, thus permitting the machine to be sufficiently guided in the event of emergencies to remove the car from its parking position in the event of fires or similar circumstances.

Figure 1, is a side View of my invention. ig. 2, is a central sectional view of the operative mechanism which embodies my 111- vention.

Fig. 3, is a top plan view of the same. s

Fig. 4, is a cross-sectional view taken on .the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. v s

Fig. 5, is a crosssectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

F ig, 6,'is a top plan view of the columncup madeuseof.

Fig. 7 ,is a bottom plan view'of the wheel hub.

Fig. 8, i a vertical sectional view of the mechanism taken through thelock.

Fig. 9,'is a fragmental sectional view of the cup taken onthe line 9--9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. '10, is a detail perspective view ofthe hubsection andlock. i

Fig. '11, is a detail column cup. c

The invention' consists inconstructing a perspective view of the Application filed March 19, 1921. Serial No. 453,604.

mechanism which is applied to the steering column 12 or an automobile, and a portion to the steering post 13.

prising a flange 15, a center body portion 16 and a cylindrical integral sleeve 17, the Same being bored out to receive the steering post 13 and to which it is firmlyheld by keys 18 or the like, which are seated in key-ways 19 formed in the sleeve and body portion 16, and functioned by frictional contact driving fit, or forming a shallow slot in the upper endrof the post 13.

Between theflange 15 and body portion 16 is formed a channel 20 in which is a shoulder 21, the same running around the base of the entire body portion 16.

A portion of the bottom of the channel 20 is deepened forming a depression or cavity 22 and adjacent to said cavity is a projection 23, the purpose of which will be. hereinafter described.

Over the body portion 16 is movably mounted a sleeve or rim 2%, its bottom 25' provided with a cut out portion 26, so shaped as to correspond with the bottom 0% the channel 20. On the surface of the bot-,

tom 25 is'a projection 27"which is designed to lit or seat itself in the cavity 22 when the parts are: in proper relation for steering condition, and when the lock 28 carried by the rim 24: is manipulated pulling the latch 29 in and removingit from'the shoulder 21. 7 On the top of therim 2t ismounted a ring 30, the same havingan inwardly and nownwardly extension 31 which fits between the rim 24 and sleeve 17 and on which .rests a coil spring 32, the tension of which is to press the rim 24 into the channel 20 of the cup; I

@n the top end of the post 13 is applied a nut 33, on the underside of which contacts the top of the coil spring 32,; and the tension of the spring is regulated by the adjustment of said nut.

On the top of the ring 30 is fixed acap or :2

cover 3 1, which may be either closed or provided with an opening 35, this depending largely upon the cond tions'of the cons'truc-- tion and'position of thespark and throttle levers passing through the post.

In orderto provide a positive and firm grip between the wheel section and cup 14:, and to prevent the spring from being compressed by accidently pulling upward on the 'wheel I provide a fastening device which is erative position so that the steering gear cannot be ei'lectively operated,

" ated in that particular direction only, but,

in the form of a screw 36 seated in the cap or cover et the inner end'adapted to enterinto a depression 37 formed in the surface of the nut This device maybe-1n the form of a s )ring*actuated pin 'lor quickad' tion itso required.

By f/lUS'IDQClItUilSlil li} prevents the wheel from becom ng d sengaged :t 'oinits operative position if in the event the driver should suddenly and by excitement when in close quarters exert a pulling pressure on thw vheel I 7 I I V v 'lhe operation of my invention is as folw I When the appliance is in position and it is desired to place the wheel in a loose inopthe screw 36 id from the nut the wheel is first re is then pulled upon which eompressesthe spring and brings up the rim 24 releasingthe projection 2? from thecavityjQZ.

The look is then operated throwing out the latch 2 9,le tting it ride upon the surface ,oi theshonlderfl.

' ;.l .Vlien so positioned it will permit the wheel and tsfparts to direely, turn in the cup l t, theprojection 21 however striking the projection 23 on either side depending upon the direction of the wheel movement thereby permitting the wheel to freely rotate a l ttle less than one revolution. Where the steering gear is engaged it may be operwill prevent a positive and steadyg iiding'ot i the connected post "and.

7 manipulatedpulling inning; gear. .{This I complies with the V -o,rd-. ance, compelling, a steering mechanism to be so functioned asto allow a parked machine to be sufficiently. guided when emer gency-"eompels the ear to be moved in the This partial operation Wilhhowever, not

.be sufficient. to permit-the steering gearto controilthe steady guiding of zlfHlZlClllIlQllllI-i. netmvei- To, frigi' pressed into-the channel and theprojeetion.

Q'Zinthe. cavity. 2 2. V r

} ving fully described ny invention what I'elaim, is: r

1. Asteeri dly meta as w n, the lock is.

in the latch 29, and bythe expansion of the spring the rim is ing wheel operating'in the cup member, a pI'OjGClllOn formed on the bottom of the sleeve and adapted to seat itself in a depression formed in: the bottom of the channel,

anda lock whiehwhen opera-ted preventing the projection from sea'ting itself in said depression, substantially as specified' 2. A steering wheel of the characterdescribed comprising a cup member, said cup 'member fixed firmly to a steering post, a

sleeve lOCCtiLQCli{iIOunChtlie' cup member, the upper-portion 0t sa d sleeve having a hollowed out portion, a nut attached to thetop of the steering post, afspring located be;

tween the nut and sleev'e,; a projection formed on the bottom surface of the sleeve, 1 the cup member loosely: mountedon the top of the steering column but lirin'ly coii nected to the steering post, said cup member-ha v ing achannel portion in which is a cavity more deeply .dep essedthan the rema n ng portion of the channel and 1SitO rece ve the projection on'the bottomot the sleeve and a lock for controllingthe position oiitli ei sleeve with the cup, substantiallyns Speci- A steering wheel coinprising ts? member attached. to the: top or attesting post, said ciip nember ioosei mounted-p11 the top; of the steering aCOllllllIl which :enf

cases the steering post, asleevej, achaiinel' formed in thec p inember' for therece'ption' of the lower end of the sleeve, aprojectioii formed on the bottom edge. ofthe sleeve and adapted to iit into a depressioniormed the channel of theeup, .aiprojection formed in'the channel and adjacent the depression and acting as a stop to limit the turning motion of the sleeve,.a l o clirfcarried the sleeve loiyconti'olling theposit on of the;

sleeve projection with the, depression'in the cup, and a spring. located n the sleeve for normally holding the-sleeve in close contact with the cup, substantiallyasls-peciiied.

41-. A steeringv wheel comprising a sleeve, a cup member, each positioned to operate one within the .other,xa channel formed in the cup member the samefhaviiiggadepression formed therein, a projection tormedron the bottom-"edge of thesl evefand' adapted to be seated in the depression," a nut" located on the upper encl otftl e steering rod to which; the cup member is fined said Clip member rigidly f'colvinected to the p post,a spring located hetweentheinut and cup member, a retaining. device. incoinmunication with the nut, and a locking mecha n'is'm carried. by the Qsleeveffor locking and 1 unlocking the sleevegto the cup member, s'uhf .stantially as specified w e 5. A steering wheel m i in awn d. v, a hub communicative position, *asteer-ing poston whichsaid cup is rigidlyconnected', a mews v eiiehv whe ler-bera fi y [operated when the same is locked, asp ring mechanism for normally holding the hub in close communication With the cup, a lock mg mechanism carried by the hub, 21 retaining device for controlling the action of the spring, and a projection for controHing the turning action of the Wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN BERLIEN.

Witnesses: v

ALFRED A. EIoKs, B. M. MANNE. 

